Traction-engine.



G. MUG. COX,

TRAGTION ENGINE. APPLIUATION FILED MAX2?, 1910,

Patented J une 9, 1914.

3 SHEETSr SHEET l.

@9Min man@ I MCG. COX.

TRAGTION ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1910.

Patented June 9, 191.4.

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3 SHEETS-SHEET n.

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3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented June 9, 19114 O. MCG. COX.

TRAGTION ENGINEL APPLICATION FILED MM2?, 1910.

"sfo the invention is to provide means whereby Diagonally disposed bennes connect the* f FFICE.

OSGAL EQGEEERJEZ, @F FLAINVEEW, TERM. `i

Lb. Srevetvn Oetter Panni. Patented June 9, 1914?.: f ippcetion fil-eci Hay $37. 13.910. Serie! 123e. 553,612. v Y

Toall'wiom 'it may concern: of 'that of Fig. 3 end looking in the oppoyf Be it known. that i, @sone Mcnnnnn direction. i Cox, citizen of the United States, residing En carrying ont my invention, I employ af,- et'PieinvieW, in the county of Hele and supporting :treme consisting of longitudinal," 60

5 State of Texas, neve invented e new and side beams i and cross beams 2 connecting4 usefui Traction-Engine, of which the oithe same, and intermediate iongitfndinni A lowing is a specification. beams 3 extending beyond the crossbeamsj,

This invention relates to improvements in 2 at their rear ends Where'they are coni.,-

traction engines and the primary object, of nected by e supplemental cross bea-in 4.65

the power of the driving eyiinder rnaywbd ends of the beams 4 with 'theA reezrmosi: appiied directly to the axle of the traction; beams 2, andadditionai longitudinal bcsnms-V .'.g wheel without a'ecting the ease with which 6 entend between the cross beams 2 adjacente; the machine may be steered and Without iie.-v the side beams i, as shown most eieariyl linqui bility ot bending or breaking the axle when Fig. 2. To the foremost cross beam Zul-r the machine is being driven around short secure a reach 7 in the frontend of which# Curves, is mounted a king bolt 8 upon whichazthei A further object of the invention is to steering aide 9 is mounted end eciapted'-io'f` arrange 'the .operating mechanism in e comoseiiiete. Guiding wheels 10 are mounted;.75 pact form so that no unnecessary spese Wiii on the ends of the axle 9 and are provided be occupied by the same and the deed with central annuler ribs ll adapted toxtalrel weight oi the machine will be reduced. into the ground and thereby positively.

A further object of the invention .is to im guide the apparatus in the desired linefof prove and simplify the operating me'chatravel. in order to turn the. aide Q'abouty@ nisui whereby it may be readiiy controiied the king boi-t 8, i secure to the axle, near the i by the engineer so that the engines may be onposite ends of the saine, chains or cables-* driven forward or backward and the direcin which extend rearward therefrom sons.'y if', tion of travel reversed quickly and without to cross, as shown in Fig. 24, yand are secured e unnecessary wear upon any of the parts. to and Wnapped 'around e windlass or shaft 85 A furtherobject. of the invention is to 13 in opposite direcions. This Windless 13,-: provide simple and efficient means by which is mounted in suitable bearings 1li on. thei 'the machine may be held against traveling front cro, i bar 2, and is provided near its 5:, and the power utilized to operate a threshu outer enc with a Worm pinion l5 Witi'rlv ing machine or other mechanism. which meshes n `Worm 16 on the front end-e0 All the stated objects, and suchV other obot' a steering rod 17 extending back totheaf' jects ns wili hereinafter' incidentaiiy appear, cab or engineers platform and equipped#1 are attuinedin the use ot' the mechanism with e hand wheel 18 by means of Whichit, illustrated in the accompanying drawings maybermonipuiated. It Wili bereadily. and the invention consists in certain novel understood that when the stcering'rod `01u95 40 features of the same which Wiii be hereinA shafti7 is rotated, the Windiass 13 Willbef'f after iirst fully described and then more iilrewise rotated and one chain l2 Wiil ,bez'fa speciiicaily pointed out; in the appended wound on the windlass 13 and the other l claims. chain l2 Wili be univound therefrom so that 4 In the draivings,-Figure fi a side elea pull will be applied to one end of the 100 ration of a traction engine embodying my steering axle 9, and the said axle conse-5' improvements. Fig. Z is e pier. view of the quently caused to turn about the king boit saine with the boiler removed 3 is n. und lbring the steering Wheels l0 into the: vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of desired line of travel. ff Fig. 2. Fig. i is a detaii side elevation of The traction wheels 19 are rigidly .see4 195 o0 the reversing' mechanism. Fig. 5 is a detail cured to independent axles or driving shafts 'sectional view taken 'on the line 5 5 of 20, each of which is journaled in suitabie 4. Fig. (3 is a detail eievation illustrating bearings on a. side beam l, the beam 6 pflrarf' the manner of supporting the apparatus so ici therewith, and the inner longitudinai that its power may be utilized for driving beam 3. The euries are arranged in the Sainevw machinery. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertitransverse iine of the machine and ere dupi'i-t cai. cross sectiontaken somewhat to the rear Cates so that e description of one Wiii 'epply to both. The axle is provided between the beams 3 and G with a pair of cranks 2l, arranged at different angles to the shaft so that in the operation ot the machine both cranks will never be on a dead .center and, consequently, no portion of the power ap-l plied to the cranks will be wasted in overcoming a dead center. To each of the cranks. is pivotally connected the outer end of a connecting rod or dink 22 having its forward end pivoted to a cross head 23 which is secured rigidly to the rear end of a piston rod 24 extending from an engine cylinder 25 and operated by a piston within the said cylinder, as will be readily understood. It will be observed that two engine cylinders are provided for cach axle, and

these cylinders are-arranged one above the other, asshown most clearly in Fig. 3 and are, of course, disposed at such an angle to each other as will bring both of them into planes radiating from the center of the crank shaft or axle, In this manner, the working cylinders will be so disposed as to apply the power directly to the crank shaft. The front transverse beam 2 is not secured directly to the trout ends of t-he longitudinal beams l and 3, but is connected therewith through intermediate short standards or braces 2G. Lower beams 2T extend from the braces 26 to the crank axle, and the rear ends of these beams 27 are secured to the side beams l and the inner beams 3 through suitable connecting bolts which also serve to secure the bearings for the crank shaft between the said longitudinal beams. It will be observed, more particularly upon reference to Fig. 3, that a beam 27. is provided under each beam 1 and each beam 8 as well as under an intermediate longitudinal beam 28, the 'front end of the said beam 28 being connected with the front end of the side beam .l by a cross bar 9.9 in oi'der to impart thc necessary rigidity to the strueture. The beams l and t28 together withthe' .innermost beams 2T constitute a guitle or way for the lower cross head 23, as wiill be readily understood from Fig. 3. Theg'guide for the upper cross hea d and the sup )Ort for the same, and the cylinder 25 rom which the said cross head is operated, are furnished in part bythe beam t and a supplemental beam. 3() arranged directly under the beam (i and secured thereto by suitable bolts or similar vtasteniugs at a point in rear of the rear limit olf imrven'icnt of thc cross head. 'l`he hcains (l and 230 support the outer sido ol' the upper cross head, and

to support the inner ,nde olf the .said cross head. l provide beams ll arranged parallel with thelbeam l' and supported with thc beam G 'trom the lotrgitudinal beam?) by an arched coiniection 33 arranged at an iiitermcdiate point ol" the lengths of the beams A6 and-3 and arched sutlicientily to clear the cross head or either connccting.;r rod. 'l`heiexact detail connection and arrangement of the several beams are illustrated only generally in the drawings, inasmuch as they. are mere matters of mechanical detail which do not affect the operation or scope of my inv'htion.

The steam chest 34 for the upper cylinder is arranged at the outer side of the same, while the chest for the lower cylinder is arranged at the inner 'side of the same. Projecting from each steam chest is a `valve stein 36 arranged to reciprocate in a guide 37 mounted on the supporting frame, and connected with the outer end of the said valve stem is a link 38 having its rear end pivotcd to. a slide 39 mounted within a groovcd arcuate guide plate 40 which is pivoted at .its center to a-suitable supportingr y block 4l on the main frame. On the rear edge' of this guide plate 40, near the upper end 'plithe same, is pivoted the front end of a pitinan 42 having its rear cud constructed with;v clamping aws lt3 adapted to embrace an eccentric 44 secured rigidly upon the crank shaft or axle. The valve stem pro jectijng from the inner lower steam chest 35 is pivoted directly to the front end of the link'SS, but the valve stem projecting from the upper steam chest coi'lnccted with the link S8 through an intermediate rock .shaft 45 journaled in suitable bearings on the main frame and having a crank a-rm llti near its inner end to which the valve stein is pivotcd, and a crank arm -l-T at its outer cud to which the end of the link 38 is iivotcd. An interl'iosition of this rock shatt -t is necessary in order to permit the connections between the valve stem and the eccentric to clear the traction wheel 19, aswill be readily understood from Fig. 2.

It will be readily understood, from the description thus far given, that steam ad-v mitted through the steam chest to the worte ing cylinder will act upon the piston in the said cylinder so as to reciprocate the cross head and thereby transmit motion through the `connecting rod directly to the crank on the driving shaft or traction wheel axle. Said axle will be rotated under the power thus applied thereto, and the eccentric .ll will, oi" course, be actimtcd and a reciprocating movement imparted to the pitman -l which will be transmitted directly to the vihratory plate 40 so as to oscillatc the saine upon its l,pivot andv thereby actuatc the link 38 so as to ieci} n'oeat;e the valve stem and,

l Utl incasso Y- consequently, direct the steam from the fairest# `alternately to opposite ends of the cylinder' in the usual manner. The speed ot theV ein gine may be controlled bv adjusting the slide 39 toward or from the pivot'of thev lated() and may be reversed by -movin t e: said slide to theopposite side ofthe pivotof the said plate, as will loe-,readily understood: .In

7 `the said connecting rod extending rearwardly te any convenient point adjacent the engineers platform Where it is ivoted to anoperatingf lever 5d rovided with a latch 55 adapted toengage tiefusual holding rack It willy thus seen that by adjusting thefeontrollinglever 54 .the 'engineer may movelthesaid slide 39 toward or from. the pivotothe plate a0 so that tlie extent Aoit movement'aroundthe said pivot imparted to the-.slidefriiaybe re ulated and, consesteam valve Yadjusted as may be desired;

The boiler 51 is supported uponfthe main f frame by standards 'land 58 atthe ,rear

of the `axles or cranlr shafts.

and 'front ends of the same, and upon the boiler I provide the nsual steam dome 59' froinfwhieh a steam pipe 60 passes aronnd theboiler to convey the actuating fluid to the steam chests. :This steam pipe 60 is proyvided below fthe boiler with Ia branch 6l in which is mounted a suitable cut-oid valve controlled by aspeed governor 62 Awhich is actuated througha belt 63 connecting the .Y

pulleya on the stemfo .the said valve with a driving pulley 65 on the inner end of one lower end ofthe branch tl4 smaller pipes 66 conduct the steam lto the [several steam chests, as will be understood.' most readily upon 4reference to' Figs. 2 and3. AThe ex-` haust pipesG-i' 'romthechests on each side of the machine unite in a common conductor 68 which passesto andy through a rfeed wator heater Grlpinountcd on.l the side of the boiler, and aitter passing through the said heater enters the front end .of the boiler and discharges ,through the smoke stack O so aslto create la, lforced draft which will maintain `the lire n-,the tire box. at .the rear end of the boiler yin the desired state of ieiiiciency.y lThe ,feednvater heater is connected in any desired manner,v with a tank or source of watensupply which is not` shown in the drawings,- asit forms lno part of mjy/Q present invention, Any convenient form Lof throttlemvalve kmay V-be provided within the steamidomebl) ,and .the throttle .rod 7l of they said-valve Awill"passrearward l lthe upper ends .of the cylinders quently,,thef'rapidity o movement' of the.-

ln order to "transmit the power generated l in the engine to drive a threshing machine or other apparatus, l, provide on one of the crank shafts a band pulley 73 which is coni nected" by a belt 74 with a pulleya" on the .inner end of a 'counteishaft 7 (i mounted yin suitable-bearings on the under sideof'v the boiler and equipped at itsouter end with a ytly wheel Z7 which also 'serves as a;k

band pulley around which a drivingbeltmay be passed tov impart motion to fthe. ma#

chinery l`to be olperated. In order to utilize the, ower of t e engines' to perform work in t reshing or "for other purposes, it is necessary to maintain'y ythe engine againstv traveling, :and for this .purpose Iprovide means for lifting the traction Wheels from lthe ground so that the power exerted by' theV ,working cylinders will not cause the traction engine to travel. f Upon the beams v3, in rear of .the traction wheels'l'monnt.

cylinders 78 in which are suitable pistons having their piston rods 79 extending from and pivf oted, as at 80, tothe said beams. A pipe 81 leads from the boiler to each ofthese"`A` l cylindersS to. admitl steam to the lower end of the same below the piston thereof` and the flow fot. steam through this pipe( is 'controlled by a cut-oit valve 82 which may be easily operated by the engineer. The cylinders are normally held in an elevated position bymeans of chains or cables 83 attached to the upper ends of the cylinders and extending upward therefrom to a hold- Aing lever 8,4; provided with a latch 85 adapted to engage a raclrSG ot a well lrrnownv form. 'Whenit is desired to lift the" tra@ tion wheels from the ground, theV lever 84" is moved vdownward so as to permit thecyl'y in ders to drop into the position shown in Fig, 6, after Whichfthe valve 82 is opened the cylinders and force the pistons therein*V upward, as will be readily understood. As the said pistons rise, the rear end of the mainl frame will, of course, be moved Vupward and the entire apparatus will be then supported by the said cylinders 78 and the frontsteering Wheels l0, as will be readily llk so as to' admit steam to the lower ends'olvr" understood, thetraction Wheelsbeing lifted?v clear of the ground so that their rotation will not cause the traction Vengine to travel. ln order to hold the frame in the elevated position, pawls 87 are pivot'ed upon the frame adjacent the'cylinders and provided with aplurality of notcheslinltheii edges adapted to engage the upper ends of the cylinders, as shown in Fig. 6, whereby the frame 'will be preventedv from dropping.

when the flow of steamy is cut oder `the steam in the cylinders condensea, When the engine is traveling, these. pawls will be held in an inoperative position alongside the beams 3 to which they are pivoted by-any convenient form of bracket or lug, as indicated at 89. The provision of a plurality of the notches 88` permits the'eng'ineer to lift the frame vlto a greater or less degree, as may be necessary' under var i conditions, and will be foundiespecially esirable where the ground is not firm, inasmuch as the preliminary sinkin of the cylinders under the v leight of v tn "e engine may be counteracted!` by ,admitting more steam to the cylii'iders, and consequently raising the pistons to a greater extent'.

In order to yobtain affirm footing in soft ground, I may connect the cylinders b a transverse foot 'or platform 90 which wi l furnish an extended bearing against the ground, as will be readily understood. The provision of these lifting cylinders will be found advantageous should 'tirer traction Wheels drop into i". hole in the road, as they nia be readily utilized to remove the wheels rom the depression without great' delay in the travel of the machine.

It will be understood, of course, that when the machine is to be lifted s0 as to apply its power zfor threshing orV similar purposes, the vadmission of steam to the workingr cylinders is arrested and steam is then admitted to the lifting cylinders While the driving elements are inactive. If, however, it be desired to carry the engine over some obstruction, which has temporarily arrested its travel, the lifting cylinders are lowered without cuttingr oil' the flow of steam to the workingT cylinders, and steam is then admitted to tlie'lifting cylinders so that they will then act as levers toV push the traine forward so that the force olf'the steam admitted to the lifting cylinders will be added tio the power exerted by the working-cylii'idcrs in rotating the traction wheels and, coiisequently, the obstruction will soon be passed.

It will be seen from 'the foregoing description that I have `provided an exceed tit) . c iug'ly simple and compact arrangement of working parts by which thc power generated iu the working cylinders is transmitted directly to the axlesof the traction wheels so that none ot the power is lost through driving a long or complicated train of gearing. Furthermore, the` space occupied by the gearing in all forms of traction engines known to nic is saved by' my invention, and thc dead weight, which it was necesi-sary for the engine to carry, is reduced. By providing a separate axle :lfor each traction wheel I am enabled to apply the power directly to the axle or drivingr shaft: without any liability ol bendingr or breaking' thc saine' when turning corners, inasmuch as the tracf and-theen es driving one wheel are independent-o the engines driving the otherv wheel'and, consequentl will automatically adapt themselve'st e dierenoe in the load placed upon the ytwo wheels in turning the machine out; of n straight line. The means fonctu'ntin the governor and the means for transmitting the power to distant. point are arranged below the boiler so that they will not i'n any'way interfere with the movements of the engineer nfol'eaning or adjusting any of the parts and utilize space which has heretofore been unavailable. Tin valve gear devised by 4e and herein disclosed is exceedingly simp e in its construction and direct in its operation.

The advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will berneadil apparenti vto those skilled in the art to whi the invention appenains, and while 4I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the apparatus' which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of that claims appended hereto. i5 f Having thus described my invention, what, I claim is y 1. In a traction engine, the combinationl of a main lframe, independent crank axles mounted therein,'a traction wheel on 'each crank axle, a pair of engines connected directly with caen crank axle,the engines of each pair being arranged one above the other, and means driven by each crank axle for controlling the admission of a working agent to the engines connected with sai axle.

2. In a traction engine, the combination with a main frame, of a pair of crank axles mounted thereon, a traction'wheel secured on each axle. engines connected directly with Teach axle, a band pulley on the inner end of each axle, and means for transmitting power from the said band pulleys.

3. In a traction engine, thc combination of a frame, independent crank axles mounted therein, a traction wheel secured on euch axle, engines connected directly vwith each axle, a counter-shaft on the trame, a band pulley on thc inner cud of one of the axles, and connections between the said pulley and the counter-shaft.

4. In a tract-ion engine, the combination of a main frame, a pair of crank axles mounted thereon, a. traction wheel secured to cach axle7 engines directly connected to each axle, a band pulley on the inner end of @ach axle., n. governor couiinon to the cngiiics connected to box axles, connections between one of the band pulleys andthe govemol", a munter-shaft on the frame, and connections between the other puiey and the counter-shaft.

5. na traction engine, the combination with a frame and boier, a pair of Shafts monnted independently in the frame below the bo-ier and in treneve'rse aiinement, a traction Wheel mounted on each shaft, a pair of cranks provided on each shaft, a pair of engines at each side of the frame belovT the boier, said engines being arranged one above the othenand at en angie to eax-h other and in planes .adiating from the eenter of the crank shifts, the pistons of said engines being separately and directly connested to the cranks of said-shafts.

r6.111etraetimn engine, the combination of a main ame, independent crank axles mounte therein, a traction Whee en eneh crank axle, a pair of engines connected. directiy with each crankaxle, the engines of each pair being' arranged one above the other and at such an angle to each. other as will bring bot-h of them into planes radi- @SCAR MCGRUDER COX.

Witnesses CHARLES ELEMENTS, J. A. HUTGHISON. 

